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Regular
Posts: 55
| Fellow Members,
I have another nagging problem that I hope you can help me solve. I have owned a '64 New Yorker for some years. The original starter crapped out about a year ago and could not be rebuilt, or at least it would have needed all major components. So, I installed an original starter that I had cleaned up. It worked flawlessly for about two months, then it began to make the deadly "click" from the solenoid when I attempted to start the car. The car always started after several attempts, but no one wants to be stranded, so I rechecked everything in the starter three times. Nothing I did corrected this sometimes-yes-sometimes-no situation, so I bought a new starter and installed it. It worked flawlessly on the first couple of attempts and then, "click!" This new starter is doing the same thing as the used one I had, so in desperation, I replaced the starter relay which was original--still the same intermittent clicking. Hard to believe two starters would do this, so I am wondering if I am missing some other problem and wrongly condemning the solenoids on both of these starters. I am afraid to drive the car anywhere until I have his problem corrected. Any suggestions are welcome. I will conclude by saying the car has never failed to start eventually and both starters worked well about 50% of the time and when the clicked, they always eventually turned over. Thanks! |
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Expert
Posts: 1770
  
Location: Alaska | it is possible a badly worn ring gear might be the problem. the starter gear does not fully engage with the ring gear so the solenoid internally does not make contact to operate the starter. When you shut off the engine, it does not stop turning at random points but because of compression it tends to stop turning at maybe one of four places which means the ring gear does not get even wear but instead wears more at a few places. I can't say for sure this is the problem but have seen it before. I hope this makes sense. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 422
Location: Hilltown, PA |
It is very difficult to diagnose this kind of thing long distance simply because there are multiple possible issues, and what you call a "click" someone else may call a "clunk" - which are actually two very different symptoms.
Given that multiple units have exhibited the same symptom, and the symptom is intermittent, and you state that "eventually" the starter will operate, I would be far more suspicious of a bad connection someplace in the starter circuit.
I'm going to assume you've checked and cleaned all of the connections on the power side (or are doing that now) because that's where we tend to look - at the wires.
However, don't forget that all that current needs to get back to the battery . . .
I would carefully check the ground side of the circuit - Is the negative cable in good condition? Is it properly secured at the battery? Does the ground end of the cable (at the engine or frame) have a good, clean connection? If the negative cable mounts to the engine, is there a sufficiently sized cable providing a ground path to the frame and body of the car? Is that cable also in good condition with good clean tight connections? And if the negative cable grounds to the frame, is there corresponding cables from the frame to the engine, also in good condition? How about the starter itself - is there a heavy coat of paint on the starter where it mounts to the engine, or on the engine itself? We expect the mounting bolts to provide ground path for the starter, but sometimes this isn't the case, and we need to clean he bolts/holes/mounting pads to insure a good electrical path.
Remember that ALL grounds are important - if you have a good ground to the starter, but the body ground is questionable, when you load the circuit the starter relay may fail to engage, or drop out when the bad connection resistance goes up due to current flow.
We often overlook the ground side of circuits, and many intermittant or unusual electrical issues stem for ground side faults.
Gregg
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 517
Location: Invermere B.C. Canada - Rocky Mountains | The solenoids are clicking because they are not getting the required voltage to hold them engaged because of either a wiring problem or a poor condition battery. Try another battery. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 517
Location: Invermere B.C. Canada - Rocky Mountains | So, the world is waiting with great expectations on the results / solution. |
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Starter Clicking on '64 Chrysler
